Transition

Concentration of CO2 in the Atmosphere

February 5 Green Energy News

Headline News:

Labor, business, and environmental leaders have formed a unique coalition that will urge Illinois lawmakers to pass new standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy, leading to tens of thousands of new, local jobs. More than 100,000 individuals across the state already work in the clean energy industry. [Forbes]

Energy use in federal post offices, court houses and military bases has dropped to its lowest level on record. The sharp decline is largely thanks to a Bush-era push to slash electricity and fuel consumption in thousands of facilities and vehicles. The total was the lowest since record keeping began in 1975. [Investing.com]

The electric power industry is turning away from coal, and clean energy is growing again in the US as investments in renewables increased in 2014 after a three-year decline. The 2015 Sustainable Energy in America Factbook report says US as second in the world behind China for clean energy investments. [Climate Central]

In the current legislative session, Republicans who control the Washington state senate jumped into the discussion of how to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases. Senators from both parties outlined a plan for promoting such “carbon reduction investments” as electric-vehicle chargers and efficiency. [Bellingham Herald]

The US National Renewable Energy Laboratory has joined the Electric Power Research Institute to launch the Clean Energy Incubator Network to improve the performance of clean energy business incubators, connect potential partners, and advance new clean energy technologies from researchers. [Renewable Energy Magazine]